Scots College v Wanderers
Wanderers was formed in Queensland during 1933 by the then Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson, with the aim to encourage young people to play and enjoy the game of cricket. Today the Club plays mid-week matches each Summer, mostly against schools in the State's south-east, and undertakes an annual 12-day playing and coaching tour of country centres. Tours in recent years have taken Wanderers west to Eromanga, South to Yetman and North to Charters Towers.
In July/August 2023, the Wanderers Annual Tour will loop around Chinchilla, Roma, Tambo, Barcaldine, Emerald, Rolleston, Springsure, Calliope. If you are a cricketer, golfer, lawn bowler or just an avid observer/supporter, please visit the Wanderers Club QLD Inc. Facebook page and register your interest.
The Club relies upon its own fund-raising resources and sponsors to finance its activities including supporting youngsters in coaching clinics and on tours.
23 November 2022 at Scots College Oval, Warwick.
It was overcast at first in Warwick, but the clouds gave way to a Sunny afternoon with a light breeze to take the edge off.
Wanderers stalwarts Brad Murphy and Lance Roudenko conducted a coaching clinic for the Scots College youngsters in the morning and the college provided a sumptuous lunch before Captains, Sheldon Stackpoole and Byron Gale from Wanderers “selected” teams for the afternoon 25 over match.
Sam Hadfield - one of several Valley English imports in the Wanderers squad and Sam Bourke from Scots, established themselves early, taking the score to 57 without loss from 12 overs, before Bourke “got the hook” retiring not out on 26 from 43 balls. Bourke’s retirement was the catalyst for a major collapse in the Stackpoole (Wanderers) squad. Scots’ Hamish Swift picked up two wickets in an over when Hadfield was brilliantly caught on the long on boundary by Nelson Madua and the incoming Michael Cooke got a top edge which went high to cover and was well caught by Englishman, Archie Ramanthan. Two balls later, Ben Carey attempted a quick single and was run-out by alert schoolmate Rory Farrell. Wanderers had lost 3 for 2 in 8 balls.
Liam Green and Percy Kruger righted the ship with a solid 31 from 36 balls before Percy got the hook after a well-made 11 from 24. Green and Colin Quigley were industrious in adding 24 from 28, but in trying for quick runs in the last over, Green got a top edge and was brilliantly caught (again) by Madua, running 30 metres to mid-wicket to take a diving catch off his own bowling! Scots’ Lewis Edwards calmly smashed his first ball for 4 then added a few more with Quigley to post 4/121 from the allocated 25 overs.
The Gale-led Scots squad started with an equally solid opening stand of 49 from 9 overs by Rory Farrell and Matthew Warner. Warner was promptly retired after smashing six fours and a six in a 28-ball 34. Farrell was also retired a couple of overs later for 13 from 36. Nelson Madua and skipper Gale added a patient 12 before Madua was out to a fine running and diving catch by Wanderers skipper Sheldon Stackpoole at backward point off the bowling of Sam Bourke. Six balls later it was Stackpoole again, this time with a direct hit catching Gale short of his ground coming back for a second. Jack Ragh’s 15 minute stay at the wicket included a blistering 8 boundaries and swung the match heavily in favour of the Scots team. A catch and a run-out both to an alert Percy Kruger temporarily set the cat amongst the pigeons, but a 4 to Fin McGreath in the 22nd over overhauled the 122 run target. McGreath and Will Bryant went on to add 25 from 31, before stumps was called with the score on 4/139.
Well done to all for an entertaining afternoon of cricket.
Wanderers’ Gian Taviani, thanked Scots players and staff for their hospitality and coach Callum Blake was hopeful that the match could become a regular event.
Scots’, Jack Ragh’s superb early bowling and explosive innings with the bat earned him “Player of the Match” honours.
A big Thank you to Umpire Bryan Stephens - a former Wanderers Tourist and Brian Miller who did a great job in preparing the wicket and surrounds for the day.
Wanderers next outing is against Brisbane Grammar on Monday 28 November.
